Windows XP Service Pack 2

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Hi all,

I am putting this to the forum (with the backing of Muckshifter, Cheers me ole' Mucker ;-)) to see what the general concensus is. I have heard from a reputable source that service pack 2 will disable "not 100% legal", shall we say, copies of windows XP. Has anyone else heard this? Apparantly it is going to target corporate copies.

Just wondering what people had heard about this?
 
correct.

any version of SP2 past RC2 will not run on a system that is using an invalid product key.

the earlier versions of SP2 RC1/RC2 etc will install and will generally work ok. you may find there a big buggy, but of course this is to be expected from a beta release.

As with SP1 there are a couple of ways around this, the only one i can mention here is to buy a legitimate copy of XP or contact microsoft for a new product key. (they sometimes block legit prod keys, by mistake of course!)

J
 
As Techy said. We're on dodgy ground here mate, but there are ways and means.

Try using Google ;)
 
floppybootstomp said:
As Techy said. We're on dodgy ground here mate, but there are ways and means.

Try using Google ;)
Flopps ... bodhi was asking if it "hosed" illegitimate (non legal) copies of XP ... not how to get around it.

As I already stated in my PM to bodhi, I wasn't quite sure ... however I have done a wee bit more research and all SP2 will do is 'politely' state you are running a copy of XP that is not supported.

:cool:
 
muckshifter said:
Flopps ... bodhi was asking if it "hosed" illegitimate (non legal) copies of XP ... not how to get around it.

As I already stated in my PM to bodhi, I wasn't quite sure ... however I have done a wee bit more research and all SP2 will do is 'politely' state you are running a copy of XP that is not supported.

:cool:
Ah, OK. Must admit, I was feeling a bit 'twitchy' about this one ;)
 
There is a "rumour" going around that SP2 will 'delete' illegitimate copies of XP.

Actually, I quite like that rumour.


:D
 
Is service pack two basically all the critical updates and bug fixes up to a certain point? You then continue to do the windows updates as per usual after it is installed? If you keep doing your windows updates whenever they appear then will you eventually, in essence, have SP2 installed? So many questions, and appologies if they are a bit daft.

And finally, for all the scoundrels out there with illegal copies of XP, its either install SP2 and risk the destruction of your PC from 'uncle bill' or dont, and risk the destruction of your PC from those virus writing swines out there? Hmmm, 6 and two 3's there then.
 
Very happy with the SP2 installation on my laptop as well as home desktop. What I found new in SP2 are basically two things, completely new dialog box poping up about the firewall and IE pop-up blocker. Have no issues so far on either of the machines.
 
service pack 2 is more like a whole new os not an update lol, i read about it quite a bit, and found out quite a bit.


you get a new security control centre panel applet that pulls together status reports and setting for windows' own firewall, its automatic updade feature and some third party antivirus programs. The advantage of this is you no longer have to swith the stuff on, woo hoo, user friendly eh? microsoft strongly reccomends switching on update feature THE SECOND you get SP2.

another thing the service pack does is fixes internet explorer, it gets its own pop up stopper slid in there nicely, which will do a better job of blocking unwanted executable codes (malicios programs) and make it harder for users to lower IE's security settings, (sneaky) but still sp2 doesnt block every single loophole, it will although block the likes of blaster and sasser, the os still only block incoming attacks only making it completely useless to trojans horse backdoor and spyware threats that may already be on the PC, oh dear your not completely safe. so users should still install a third party firewall such as the free download sygate or personal firewall or zone labs zone alarm.

the bottom line; even though you have SP2 it doesnt mean you should stop your security efforts, keep them going and you will be even safer. as microsoft its self is more than willing to admit, this is not a silver bullet solution.

i have said this before but i feel it is quite an importand reply,
also my copy of windows will not be activated untill i buy xp, and now i'm not going to try and install it thankyou, not yet anyway
 
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